Award-Winning TV Actress Chandra Wilson Partners with Sara Lee to Educate Moms about Whole Grain Nutrition

In the spirit of National Nutrition Month, Sara Lee is continuing its efforts to increase Americans’ consumption of whole grain by partnering with recent Screen Actors Guild Award winner and mother Chandra Wilson, who plays one of television’s most famous prime-time surgeons. Wilson is helping draw attention to a recent survey that revealed seven out of 10 consumers mistakenly believe their wheat bread is 100% whole wheat when it isn’t and working to educate mothers and families on the importance of whole grains in their diets. "The bread aisle can be a very confusing place and moms need help deciphering labels,” said Wilson. "I recently learned that enriched wheat breads are labeled wheat but are actually made with little whole wheat flour. I too had fed my family a wheat bread assuming it was 100% whole wheat. Now that I know all wheat breads aren’t the same nutritionally, I want to help other mothers learn the differences between wheat breads and get their families eating 100% whole wheat.” The partnership aims to help consumers navigate the bread aisle and introduce them to products with a strong nutritional profile. Sara Lee recently launched Sara Lee Soft & Smooth 100% Whole Wheat Bread, the first "no compromise” bread made to please the whole family with a mild taste, smooth texture and 100% whole grain nutrition. "As a mother of three picky eaters, I understand how hard it is to convince children to eat healthy foods,” added Wilson. "Most wheat breads don’t offer the nutrition I want for my family. My kids don’t like of the flecks and grainy toppings on typical whole wheat bread. So, when Sara Lee introduced Soft & Smooth 100% Whole Wheat Bread, my kids loved the light color, soft texture and mild taste. I’m thrilled they are eating 100% whole grain bread.” Sara Lee Soft & Smooth 100% Whole Wheat has 14 grams of whole grain per slice, no artificial colors or flavors and no trans fats. It’s also light in color, offers no toppings or flakes common in whole grain breads. Whole Grain Background/Survey Findings Nutrition experts recommend whole grains and consumers know they should eat them. Unfortunately, most consumers don’t like them. Of the 650 million traditional loaves of wheat bread baked in the United States in the last year, 477 million (or 73%) lacked 100% whole grain nutrition, according to Information Resources, Inc. data. Moms have a hard time getting everyone in the family to eat bread with a strong whole grain taste and rough texture. Instead they choose enriched wheat bread – made from enriched wheat flour and a small proportion of whole-wheat flour – that deliver on their taste and texture preferences but lack whole grain nutrition. A recent survey commissioned by Sara Lee Food & Beverage revealed that most consumers who buy enriched wheat bread mistakenly believe they are buying 100% whole wheat bread. Seventy-three percent of survey respondents incorrectly identified their bread as 100% whole wheat when it actually has similar nutritional make-up to traditional white bread. Other survey findings include: Fifty percent of traditional wheat bread consumers mistakenly believe their bread is the best nutritional choice. Only 1 percent of consumers can accurately estimate the amount of whole wheat flour in traditional wheat breads. Most traditional wheat breads have less than 20 percent whole wheat flour. Sixty-four percent of consumers incorrectly believe brown bread is better for you than white bread and 25 percent mistakenly use a bread’s color to determine how healthy their bread is. "As a down-to-earth, working mother of three who is juggling motherhood, a demanding job and still finds time to grocery shop, Chandra Wilson is a natural fit for the Sara Lee brand,” said Peter Reiner, vice president, Sara Lee brands, Sara Lee Food & Beverage. "Chandra has tremendous appeal with mothers who are taking steps to improve the diets of their families. We’re thrilled to be working with her and know that Sara Lee Soft & Smooth 100% Whole Wheat Bread has won a place at her family’s table because of its great taste and superior nutrition.” Sara Lee Soft & Smooth 100% Whole Wheat Bread is available at grocery stores and other retailers wherever Sara Lee Bakery products are sold. The average price, which varies by region, is $2.49 per loaf. Editor’s Note: The Sara Lee Survey included 1,000 mothers aged 25-65 nationwide, conducted Nov. 16-19, 2006, with a 95% confidence level. About Chandra Wilson Recent Screen Actors Guild Award winner Chandra Wilson is best known for her role as Dr. Miranda Bailey on the hit ABC series, "Grey’s Anatomy,” where she portrays a tough surgical resident with poignancy and a charmingly sarcastic wit. Wilson has several Broadway and stage credits, including portraying Bonna Willis in the production of "The Good Times are Killing Me,” for which she won a Theatre World Award for Outstanding Debut Performance. A Houston native, Wilson received the 2006 Reel Stars of Texas Award, a creation of the Houston chapter of Women in Film & Television, which honors outstanding Texans in the entertainment industry. About Sara Lee Breads Sara Lee is the No. 1 bakery brand in the combined breads, buns and bagels segment. Sara Lee’s innovative portfolio of fresh breads, buns and bagels are designed to meet a wide variety of preferences and sensibilities – without sacrificing taste. Sara Lee branded bread was first introduced in October 2002. About Sara Lee Food & Beverage Sara Lee Food & Beverage is the North American retail food division of Sara Lee Corporation (NYSE:SLE). Based in Downers Grove, Ill., Sara Lee Food & Beverage develops and markets many of America’s favorite high-quality baked goods, packaged meats and coffee. Leading brands and products include Sara Lee fresh breads, frozen desserts and deli meats, Hillshire Farm lunch meats, Jimmy Dean sausage and breakfast foods, Ball Park franks and the Senseo single-serve premium coffee system.